CHARMIAN

Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas,
almost
most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that
you
praised so to th’ Queen? Oh that I knew this
husband,
which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands!

ALEXAS

5Soothsayer!

SOOTHSAYER

Your will?

CHARMIAN

(toALEXAS) Is this the man? (toSOOTHSAYER) Is ’t you, sir, that know things?

SOOTHSAYER

In nature’s infinite book of secrecy

A little I can read.

ALEXAS

10(to
CHARMIAN) Show him your hand.

ENOBARBUS

(to servants within)
Bring in the banquet quickly. Wine enough

Cleopatra’s health to drink.

CHARMIAN

(giving hand to
SOOTHSAYER) Good sir, give me good
fortune.

SOOTHSAYER

I make not, but foresee.

CHARMIAN

15Pray, then, foresee me one.

SOOTHSAYER

You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

CHARMIAN

(to the
others) He means in flesh.

IRAS

No, you shall paint when you are old.

CHARMIAN

Wrinkles forbid!

ALEXAS

20Vex not his prescience. Be
attentive.

CHARMIAN

Hush!

SOOTHSAYER

CHARMIAN

Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost the most
consummate Alexas, where’s the fortuneteller you recommended so
highly to the Queen? Oh, I only wish I knew the name of that husband
you said he predicted will have a cheating wife!

ALEXAS

(calling)
Fortuneteller!

FORTUNETELLER

What can I do for you?

CHARMIAN

(to
ALEXAS) Is this the man you recommended?
(to the
FORTUNETELLER) Are you the man who knows the
future?

FORTUNETELLER

I can understand a few of nature’s infinite secrets.

ALEXAS

(to
CHARMIAN) Give him your hand to read.

ENOBARBUS

(to the servants)
Bring the dessert in right away, and make sure there’s enough wine
to toast Cleopatra’s health.

CHARMIAN

(giving her hand to the
FORTUNETELLER) Kind sir, give me a good
fortune.